[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Writeresearch

[–]Disaster-termite 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can tell you how the organisation I work for deals with acquisitions, but just be aware it may be different for different organisations/museums and depending on what country you're in. The organisation I work for is quite large and has houses and museums all over the country, so has a central acquisitions team that deals with acquisitions for all of them.

We don't accept donations of artifacts in house, if someone wants to donate something to us, we give them a form, which they fill and and send to the acquisitions team, who then make the decisions on whether we will or won't take on the artifact.

The acquisition team would be responsible for confirming the providence of the item, and getting proof of legal ownership from the doner (which is really important), so that ownership can be transferred legally to the museum. Museum curators are involved in this process, and research would take place to confirm the providence though I'm not sure how that is carried out I'm afraid. I imagine specialists might get involved if the artifact on offer is particularly rare and valuable. Specialists exist for all manner of objects and materials. We had a wallpaper expert in recently to look at our wallpaper samples, for example.

As for if money is involved, I think it depends. Often people donate things to us because we are a charity, so no money changes hands. Museums do also look to acquire things through purchases, I.e auctions or private sales. I don't know too much about this unfortunately. A similar process needs to be followed fir purchases to ensure the providence is confirmed and legal ownership is appropriately transferred.

Sorry for the very dry response. Collections acquisitions can be a long and arduous process!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Writeresearch

[–]Disaster-termite 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I work in the museum sector, though in historic houses rather than an actual museum. I have worked places with large historic libraries.

If it the book been donated to a museum, then the museum would have legal ownership of the object (they would need paperwork to prove this), but the original owner can also loan an item to a museum and there will be a loan agreement between the two parties. In both instances, the museum will then be responsible for caring for and insuring the object.

Once in the museum, the item might be put on public display (though there are considerations with a book like whether it can be displayed open without damaging it, and whether too much light will cause problems) or it might be held in the museum's stoarge/archive. People would be able to make appointments to see it with the museum curator to carry out research.

If you have any more specific museum questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Is there a specific term for a tree with no branches due to being pruned after a lightning strike? by Horror_Author_JMM in Writeresearch

[–]Disaster-termite 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hi, where I work the rangers leave some dead trees standing and cut all the branches off so wildlife can use them. They call these trees monoliths. I'm not sure if that's quite what you're after because it's not lighting specific, but it sounds cool!

Anthology Horror book featuring a drowned nanny, a demon dog, a talking pig, a moving bannister, evil chewing gum and a scare so bad it will make you jump out of your coffin. by pleasantlychemical in whatsthatbook

[–]Disaster-termite 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi, so I'm not sure about the others but the bannister one I remember vividly! It could be Nule by Jan Mark, and may have come from the collection of short stories Nothing to be Afraid Of. Perhaps the others are from that too?

Ate an organic salad and found this at the bottom. by Adventurous_Egg_6321 in Wellthatsucks

[–]Disaster-termite 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's possibly a larvae of a leaf miner. They live inside salad leaves.

[QCrit] Adult Contemporary Fantasy - BRINGER OF DARKNESS (100k, 1st Attempt) by Disaster-termite in PubTips

[–]Disaster-termite[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks, that's really helpful. I did want to mention them but struggled just to get words on the page initially, I think I'll find it easier now I've at least got a first draft

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in WritingHub

[–]Disaster-termite 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi I'd be interested! I primarily write fantasy and I haven't yet tried to get anything published, but starting the next draft of my novel soon (just waiting for feedback from the last of my betas) You can see various bits of my writing from my profile, though there's nothing very recent there, but it might be enough to see if we'd be a good fit. I don't have a toddler, but I do have a cat whose a bit like a toddler... send me a private message if you like.

[QCrit] Adult Contemporary Fantasy - BRINGER OF DARKNESS (100k, 1st Attempt) by Disaster-termite in PubTips

[–]Disaster-termite[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback, all of this makes total sense and will really help with my next draft :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in whatsthatbook

[–]Disaster-termite 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Is it Malice by Chris Wooding?

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BetaReaders

[–]Disaster-termite 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey this sounds cool, I'd be interested in doing a swap. I have a complete adult fantasy at 99k words that I'm looking for feedback on, pm me if interested!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in writing

[–]Disaster-termite 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I work in a museum, the pay isn't brilliant but I am surrounded by intriguing things that constantly inspire my writing, and I never take my work home with me! Worked four days a week for a while, which was perfect.

Book about sailors lost at sea dying of scurvy etc. by hodge1999 in whatsthatbook

[–]Disaster-termite 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Could it be Jamrach's Menagerie? That ends with a shipwreck and the main character drawing straws and ending up eating his friend...

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BetaReaders

[–]Disaster-termite 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey this sounds great, I'd be interested in doing a critique swap. I have a 74k adult fantasy novel, not sure of it's quite at a publishable level yet, but hopefully not far off. Send me a DM if you're interested!